A PUBLIC DECLARATION Made by the United Protestant Princes Electors and other Princes, States and Lords, of the HOLY EMPIRE,  
Thereby showing for what causes and reasons, they are moved to join together in a strait Unity and Alliance, to Aid and Assist the Prince's Electors of BRANDEN BURGH and the PALSGRAVE:  
In the Possession of the Dukedoms, Countries and Dominions of Gulike, Cleave, and BERGE.  
Translated out of the Dutch Copy, printed at Amsterdam by MICHAEL COLYN, Ann. 1610.  
LONDON, Printed for JOHN BUDGE, and are to be sold at his shop in Britanes Burse. 1610.   

REASON'S MOVING the united Protestants, Princes Electors, and other Princes, Lords and States of the whole Empire, to join together to assist the Prince Elector of Brandenburg and the Palsegrave, in the possessions of the Dukedoms and Dominions of Gulicke, Cleave and Berge.  
WE the united Protestant Princes Electors, & others etc. send greeting with all obedience, offer of service, friendship, favour, and grace first to the Roman emperors Majesty, our most gracious Lord and sovereign, and to all other Christian Potentates, Electors, Princes, Prelates, Earls, Lords, Knights, Cities, Towns, and to every man both within and without the Dominion and Country of Germany, of what estate, quality or condition soever they be, certifying the said Emperors royal Majesty, and all and every one of them, according to their estates and quality.  
That although in this our native Country of Germany, by the consent and agreement of the head, and particular members thereof, many wholesome, good, and profitable ordinances, and among them also a common and religious peace is established; and for the better observation and maintenance thereof hereafter, openly published and proclaimed: to this end specially, that, not only justice, as the foundation of good Government, but also inward love, peace, and unity might be upheld and maintained; wherein the Emperor's Majesty, as well as all Prince's Electors, Princes and members of the holy Empire, openly and faithfully promised and bound themselves together, That none of them, of what estate or quality soever they were, for any cause whatsoever: nor upon any outward show or ground that might be made or devised, should or would make war, trouble, molest, vex, rob, spoil, ransack, besiege, nor secretly conspire or make alliances or compacts against any others of the said State and holy Empire. And also that no man should by force of arms dispossess, or violently take from any other, any of their possessions, hereditary or committed unto them in custody, whether they be Towns, Castles, Villages, Churches, Cloisters, Cluysen, Tinsen, Revenues, Tenths, movable or unmovable goods, Royalties, Jurisdictions, Rights, Signeories, Lordships, Tolls, Waters, Meadows, or any other their property and lawful Dominions, none excepted: nor once move nor stir their Tenants and Subjects to rise up against them in arms, or to show them any unnatural disobedience: But that every man should suffer each other to enjoy and possess his own peaceably and quietly, without any molestation or trouble, and by no means to endure that any man (submitting himself to law and justice) should by force be put from his right, nor any ways impeached in his honour, privilege and freedom (although there is sufficient provision made by former laws concerning the points aforesaid, against all those that shall in any wise whatsoever do contrary to the same) That then the towns of the holy Empire should join together, and by force of arms aid, assist, help, defend and maintain the parties or Towns, etc. in their right, and withstand the violence and oppression, by such parties used, as seek to do contrary thereunto.  
But for that within certain years forepast (as experience sufficiently showeth) such Statutes of the holy Empire (which truly in themselves are very commendable, and made to a good end and purpose) and especially the penalties therein set down for the execution thereof, are partly hardly taken and misconstred, and partly obstinately and wilfully broken and not observed: and that the parties grieved and oppressed are neither aided, assisted, comforted nor relieved, how earnestly, submissively and publicly soever they have sued and complained: whereof hath ensued, that such oppressions and misdemeanours in the holy Empire, the longer, the more have increased: whereby unless provident care be specially had therein, (if we should any longer wink thereat, and by God's help, by our Assemblies and meetings together, not take some good and speedy orders to stay and prevent the same) in the end certainly there would ensue an utter overthrowing, and subversion of all such wholesome Statutes and Ordinances, and of the common peace and tranquillity of the holy Empire.  
We therefore in the name of Almighty God, for the maintenance and advancement of his godly Majesty, the upholding of justice, and the furtherance of peace and unity, have already for certain years united and joined ourselves together, thereby to entertain a greater, nearer and faithfuller combination and contract of friendship; and that in no sort, nor by no means, to the hindrance or molestation of the Roman emperors Majesty, our most gracious Lord and Sovereign, to whom we are lawfully bound to show all dutiful and submissive obedience, nor of any members of the Empire (that show themselves conformable unto the Statutes and Ordinances aforesaid) whereunto we all together, and every one in particular, with all friendship, favour, grace, and neighbourely good will are bound and obliged, nor also to any man in particular, and much less to the breaking of any of the Constitutions of the said holy Empire: but much rather for the maintenance thereof, and for the more assured upholding of better peace, quietness and unity, in such manner and form, as the like contracts and combinations of amity have heretofore been made and observed by our ancestors and forefathers of famous memory, in regard of the great love and affection which they bear unto their natural Country.  
Therefore we most humbly require and beseech the emperors Sovereign Majesty, and all other Kings, Princes, Electors, Lords, Knights, etc. in general, and every one in particular, if it perchance (as we understand) his Majesty, or they should be already persuaded (by the means and devices of turbulent, envious, and unquiet persons) or hereafter might be seduced to believe, that such our Assemblies and meetings, were made, done or tended to the contempt or despising of the Imperial Majesty, or for the suppression of the Romish Religion, or specially for the disannulling, subverting and present oppugning of ancient jurisdictions, to the great hindrance of Knights and Gentlemen, to whom the benefit and properties thereof, have until this time belonged and appertained: to take and draw them from them, and to put and turn them to their own proper uses. That it would please them not to give any credit unto any such false and untrue suggestions, and slanderous calumniations; but rather to assure themselves, that it is done by us only of mere and dear fidelity, love, and affection to our native Country, and for the maintenance of a peaceable estate; which (if it pleaseth God) we will in time make known, and manifest to the world; so that none that are or have united themselves with us, shall have cause to dislike of our proceedings, but which is more, others both of the one and the other Religion shall have cause, to unite themselves with us, that so all hurtful distrust, hitherto had and entertained, may be taken away, and good and perfect unity planted and upholden.  
But we cannot refrain, but must let the emperors Majesty, and all other Potentates Electors, Princes and States, both within and without the Land; Understand, and be advertised, That it is manifestly and openly known unto all men, how that after the death of the high and mighty Prince our friendly loving Uncle, cousin, brother in law, brother, and gossip of famous memory, john William, Duke of Gulick, Cleave and Bergh, Earl vander Mark, Ravensburgh and Moers, Baron of Ravensten, and Christmilder, in the right of the wives of the Electors of Brandenburch, and the Palsgrave Philip Lodowicke, and of either of them by themselves: the temporal Possessions of all the aforesaid Duchies, Earldoms, and Baronies not clam or precario, but freely, openly, and with the good will of most of the Countries and Towns, is lawfully descended and fallen unto them: and that with manifest protestation and Declaration by them made, that it is not done of covetousness or wrongfully to withhold any man from being a Competitor therein if he hath any right thereunto, but that both the said heirs protest, touching the same, either for any part, or for the whole in general; unto every man that will not desist from their claim: before an unpartial judge, and in such Towns and places, where the cause properly (and according to the authority of the holy Empire, and specially of the Prince's Electors) belongeth to be heard, to yield good sufficient, and true reasons and answers unto them to maintain their right; and which is more, if need be, to give sufficient Cautio de judicio sisti & iudicatum solui, to prove their cause. And therefore we altogether seek to foresee and prevent that no man shall hinder nor molest them herein with unlawful power and forces, contrary to the Ordinances and Constitutions of the holy Empire.  
All this notwithstanding, their protestations and lawful right not once being considered nor respected, in the emperors Court, and in the emperors most Princely majesties Name and authority, it is evidently and earnestly practised and undertaken de facto without due course of law and justice by power, and forcibly to dispossess and utterly to expel the said Princes, being lawful heirs thereunto, from the right and possession thereof. To the which end, not only Leopoldus Archbishop of Austria, and Bishop of Stratsbourgh and Passauwe, suddenly and secretly first hath taken and entered into the town of Gulick, and the same hitherto holden and kept by force, but hath proceeded further, and seacute; eketh to seize upon, and forcibly to hold certain gentlemen's houses, villages, and Schonses lying thereabouts, and to invade other neighbour towns and places next adjacent, to keep the subjects thereof from their due obedience, and threatening the Prince's Electors the right heirs and possessors thereof as also all those, that with due obedience and fidelity submit themselves unto them with the most undeserved pain and punishment of contempt (although in such a case never heard of before in the holy Empire) if they resist him; all to the end (as it is manifestly made known and verified unto us) That these Countries may be unburdened, freed and cleansed ex faucibus hereticorum, as the States of the confession of Ausburg (e diametro contrary to the religious peace) are falsely called.  
In regard therefore that our aforesaid brethren and members with their Adherents (according to the force and power of the Laws and Ordinances of the holy Empire, and for the peace of the Law) have desired aid and assistance of us, and therewithal protested, that their intent never was, nor yet is to oppose themselves against the most high and puissant Imperial Majesty, as being their gracious Lord and sovereign Prince: And we diligently considering all the circumstances, cannot otherwise find nor perceive, but that they seek and desire the accomplishing of the Ordinances and Imperial Laws of the holy Empire, as they themselves for the defence of their right, in a printed pamphlet have sufficiently and truly declared: whereunto for brevity sake we refer you. We cannot likewise think, imagine, nor once be persuaded, that the emperors Imperial Majesty taketh any pleasure in, or is content to permit any such disorderly and unlawful proceedings to have their course against the said Princes (specially being well informed of the equity of the cause) considering that their capitulation specifieth and containeth in it, that his Majesty is bound in all cases and by all the means he can, to maintain (not only all the Prince's Electors, but also all Princely members of the holy Empire, and all other Princes and States) in their dignities, honours, rights, privileges, powers and forces, and to suffer them freely to hold, possess and enjoy them, and for his own part not to do any thing to the contrary, nor yet to suffer nor endure the same to be done by any other whatsoever. And also if his Majesty or any other whatsoever had any thing to say unto the Prince's Electors, Princes, and States aforesaid, or any intent to do any such thing; that (to cease all uproars, contentions and other Controversies in the holy Empire, to maintain peace and unity therein) he should suffer and permit them altogether & every one particularly, to be heard, and have their causes adjudged before lawful judges, and in open Courts of Law; but by no means to permit them (in any such or other causes, under any pretence, or any man's name whatsoever, wherein they may have justice, and offer and submit themselves thereunto) to be rob, taken, ransomed, burnt, fought withal, besieged, exposed, or in any ways overrun, spoiled and forcibly handled.  
Therefore we have thought it our duties, according to the faiths and fidelities, whereby one Territory (in such like case) is bound and obliged to another, and by the force and power of the foresaid Ordinances of the holy Empire, to aid and assist our brèthrens and fellow members as obedient Prince's Electors of the Empire: but in no other manner, but that every one may lawfully proceed in his right, touching the principal matter without hindrance, and that they proceed not unduly with unlawful power, against the aforesaid capitulation and Ordinances of the Empire, but that they may be suffered peaceably in their possession, and to enjoy the benefit of the Law, for the due proceeding therein, as also without it (according to all equity) they ought to have.  
Therefore our friendly request and motion unto all Christian Princes and Commonwealths, but specially to all the Prince's Electors, Princes and States of the holy Empire, is, not to take this our defensive, and natural due assistance and aid given at this time (as proceeding from Christian love, fidelity and commiseration, and of itself being reasonable and very necessary) in any evil part, much less to hinder the same, but rather to show all furtherance and assistance therein, and to put too their helping hands, to the end that all the aforesaid troubles may be ended, and a better, truer and uprighter concord be held and maintained, among the States of the holy Empire. Which we in general, and every one by himself according to his estate in particular in the like cases and oceasions will requite and acknowledge to our powers.  
FINIS.